AL West Notes: Rangers, Wilson, Feliz, Angels, A’s

With tonight's victory, the Rangers became the first AL West team to win consecutive pennants since the A's won three straight American League titles between 1988 and 1990. Here are a few news items from around the division….

Despite recent rumors, the Rangers say there's "no way" they'll throw money at CC Sabathia this offseason, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (Twitterlinks). If Texas does decide to go after a starter from outside the organization, it would probably be Yu Darvish.

The Angels may be close to a new television contract with FOX Sports, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. A filing from Major League Baseball (in the ongoing legal case with Frank McCourt) stated that the Halos are "expected to close a new transaction" in regards to a new TV deal. Shaikin hears from sources that "no deal is imminent" but FOX and the Angels have been in negotiations. Shaikin speculates that the contract could exceed the Rangers' recent 20-year, $1.6BB TV contract with FOX.

Exactly. Lewis staying put is a no-brainer. Converting Feliz means either Adams closes or the Rangers go after a closer this winter. I still think the Rangers will go hard after Darvish and maybe try for Fielder, while working extra hard on a long term deal with Hamilton’s agent. Wilson can go wither in NY.

The same thing you did this year. You have Feldman make a start or Ramirez or Perez, or someone else from AAA. You could even sign a vereran type to pitch at AAA for emergencies. You might even be able to bring up whoever you get in trade for Colby.

Ramirez and Perez would be available to come up for an emergency start. You don’t know what they could get for Colby at this point. What did Oakland have to give up for Moscoso? There are minor league pitchers available in trade who could come up. Besides, who was our sixth starter last year when we broke camp. Bush? The sixth starter next year would be just as good as him in my scenario. Feldman would be much better than Bush. So would our best AAA pitcher.

That’s ridiculous. Having six starting pitchers doesn’t mean you have “an extra one.” The Red Sox looked to have 6-7 good SPs going into the season, and look how that worked out.

It makes sense to trade a SP from depth if you have large holes to fill on offense, but that is not the case for the Rangers, who scored the 3rd-most runs in baseball this season. And if they lose CJ Wilson, even if they have six SPs, they can’t consider that as a position of depth because of all the question marks they’d have concerning at least three spots in that rotation.

Good point. The Nationals have money to spend, are getting sneaky good, and they’re mostly a young team. Imagine the leap they’d make with one more good bat and a rotation headed by Strasburg, Wilson, and Zimmermann. Then add Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon to that team in 2013.

I liked C.J. But come on why the heck do a choke job when it matters the most? if he prefers the west cost, it’s idiotic for him to think he’ll get that from the dodgers, he don’t like Oakland’s mound nor their fans, so good luck trying a new team Christopher John.

You might remember that Felix was the best pitcher in training camp but they had to put him in the bullpen becasue of depth issues. Feliz I feel will have more success as a starting pitcher than CJ Wilson. We also have Martin Perez coming up in a few years and the lerking Yu Darvish scenrio might be happening. Rangers aren’t scared to spend money they just will not with CJ. To emotional of a pitcher to spend that kind of money.

You don’t know much about Feliz, do you? I guess you didn’t know about the other three pitches – slider, changeup, curve – he throws pretty well. You probably just overlooked the fact that if closers command their fastball well with movement, then they aren’t usually asked to throw other pitches. I suppose you forgot about Alexi Ogando, who only throws two pitches and had a pretty good year as a starter. It’s cool. We’ll give you a pass on all those.

I have. I met him at the Goat Hill Tavern in Newport Beach, CA. I don’t know about you but I was able to talk with him for quite a while. Jered Weaver was right there and wasn’t talking to anyone. Scot Shields was all over the place. Napoli of course was chugging a pitcher behind the bar. I’ll bet CJ is a bigger @$$ than John.

Yup, I was in Amsterdam he was there with some friends and I had my Angels hat on so I went up to him and he was a complete jerk TO EVERYONE! Just a stuck up, dude. Just look at his interviews on TV. I was pretty stoned though so, I didnt care at the time

Abreu sucks and will not be an everyday starter and might even get traded.
Morales isnt coming back. He still can’t run and cut so his career is probably over
Trumbo isnt a 1B or a 3B, he’s a RF/LF
And finally, the Angels need a star bat. That’s all that’s been missing between the Angels and everyone else who makes the playoffs on a year to year bases. Tha Angels need power and trumbo isnt the answer.

Too bad they can’t ask him to retire now to become the new hitting coach. I think Abreu would make a fine hitting coach. Plus, I’m sure Angel fans would be happy with Hatcher out of the coaching staff.

As I watch the ALCS, I just hope that for every hit Napoli and Beltre get this postseason, that Mr. Moreno, Scioscia, and Reagins all feel it like a punch to the stomach. I’m sorry, but if I hear the commentators refer to Napoli as “Mini-Babe Ruth” one more time, I’m going to throw up myself.

I’d offer CJ 5 for $85M and if he says no then good luck, cya later. CJ is a #2 and i’d rather have darvish for the next 6 years for the same amount. He’s going to be an ace in this league and is only 25 instead of 31.

Look at how the Kenshin Kawakami experiment worked out for the Braves. KK was supposed to be this #2 type starter from Japan and got shelled over here because he couldn’t or wouldn’t make the transition. He ended up in AA and missed the rest of the season even there. Not all Japanese pitchers make it when they get here, that’s my only concern for the Rangers.

Am I reading that correctly? 20 year 1.6 billion? as in 80 million a year for the next 20 years? The rangers better not ever have trouble extending players, kinsler, hamilton, napoli, andrus ever again or signing free agents..Price, CC…if they have an extra 80 mill a year coming to them on top of the money they already make with ticket prices and merch sales…

I wonder if it’s 80 million a year, I wonder if maybe it’s 40 million a year right now and maybe in 10 years it’ll be 80 million and finish out around 100 million sometime. 80 Million dollars a year isn’t going to be as powerful in 20 years.

I don’t necessarily think they would convert Feliz. I think a lot of that has to do with his comfort level and what he wants to do. If Wilson leaves, their rotation would be: Lewis, Ogando, Harrison, Holland, Feldman. Then if they are able to get Darvish, then one of those guys is in the bullpen.